Review: Chakana Bonarda 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina

Got this one back in January 2008 and let it sit in the basement until this evening.

CHAKANA BONARDA 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#003525) - $13.95

Tasting Note:
Made with 'Bonarda' grapes, this wine has sweet, ripe, dark fruit, earth and light oak aromas. Raspberry, milk chocolate flavours. Light-medium bodied. Ripe. Starts off extremely dry, and fruit comes forward at mid-length. Very dry and tasty. Would go well with lighter fare - I'll be having it with Jhura (sp?) Chicken tonight.

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Vintage Wine Picks for Mid-January Release

Here are my top picks from the January 22 Release. Some very good wines that offer great value.

Red Wines:

• CHÂTEAU D'ARGAN 2008 - AC Medoc, Bordeaux, France (#199018) - $16.95
• J. BOUCHON LAS MERCEDES RESERVA ESPECIAL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - Maule Valley, Chile (#208348) - $14.95
• CHILENSIS RESERVA CARMENÈRE 2008 - Maule Valley, Chile (#657981) - $12.95
• CAPITOLIUM 2007 - AC Fronton, Southwest, France (#200022) - $14.95
• CASA DE ILLANA TRESDECINCO 2004 - DO Ribera del Júcar, Spain (#190702) - $15.95
• SUR DE LOS ANDES RESERVA MALBEC 2007 - Mendoza, Argentina (#208322) - $13.95
• STREWN CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (#529693) - $19.95
• VINOS SIN-LEY TRAZA GRA 2 2008 - DOCa Rioja, Graciano, Spain (#190819) - $16.95

White Wines:

• KRUGER-RUMPF RIESLING SPÄTLESE 2006 - QmP, Münsterer Dautenpflänzer, Nahe, Germany (MD) #189662 - $16.95
• CREEKSIDE ESTATE BUTLER'S GRANT RIESLING 2008 - VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada (XD) #220293 - $15.95

Let me know if you try any of these. Cheers!

The next release, in 2 weeks, will contain some delicious Icewine. Stay tuned. ;)  

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Review: Fuzion Alta Torrontes Pinot Grigio 2010 - Mendoza, Argentina

This is the 2nd bottle (the other being the Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009, reviewed on Jan 6) that was given as a part of a 2-bottle gift set during the holidays.

Review:
Stone, lemon peel aromas. Lemon, citrus, grapefruit, mineral, herbs on the palate. Spritzy start and finishes dry. It's quite nice, made in a dry-style and I do enjoy this much more than the Malbec. Can't go wrong for $8.95! It should pair well with the Chicken Quesadilla's we're having tonight.

Cheers!

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Review - Yellow Tail Shiraz 2009

I am sure many of you have tried this one before, so I was hesitant to include a review of this bottle that I just opened a few minutes ago.

YELLOW TAIL SHIRAZ 2009 - South Australia, Australia (#624544)

Review:
Dark ruby purple colour. Mulberry, violet aromas and flavours. Plus blackberry and ripe fruit centre. Medium-full bodied.

Overall impression: Smooth and goes down easy. Quite nice and very drinkable, but lacks a bit of body and structure for my taste. A good wine that appeals to many and great for get-togethers.

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Smart Vintage Wine Buys in January 2011

Here are My Top 5 Wine Picks for the January 8 Release.

1. CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS ALLEY CAT SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2008 - South Australia, Australia (#127621) - $15.95
2. FLAGSTONE THE MUSIC ROOM CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 - South Africa (#205245) - $17.95
3. CAVE DE QUINSAC L'HERMITAGE DE PRANZAC 2005 - Bordeaux, France (#190975) - $16.95 (Red)
4. GEHRINGER BROTHERS DRY ROCK VINEYARDS UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2009 - British Columbia, Canada (#219642) - $18.95
5. PFEFFINGEN GEWURZTRAMINER SPÄTLESE 2008 - Pfalz, Germany (#211417) - $19.95 

To view the full aroma and flavour profile of each wine, click on the item code (#xxxxxx).

Other Wine Picks from this Release:
Whites -
13TH STREET WHITE PALETTE 2009 - Ontario, Canada (#207340) - $14.95
MAN VINTNERS CHENIN BLANC 2010 - South Africa (#126847) - $12.95
CAVE VINICOLE DU VIEIL ARMAND RIESLING 2007 - Alsace, France (#205807) - $15.95
THE ORGANIZED CRIME UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2008 - Ontario, Canada (#214098) - $19.20

Reds -
CHÂTEAU LA FLEUR TERRIEN 2008 - Bordeaux, France (#199059) - $15.00
DOMAINE AUTRAND CÔTES DU RHÔNE-VILLAGES 2007 - Rhone, France (#200030) - $14.95
SUMPTUARY ZINFANDEL 2007 - California, United States (#203869) - $15.95

All of these can be found in the Vintages section at your LCBO.

If you try any of these, let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

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See Ya Later Ranch Chardonnay 2008 - B.C.

See Ya Later Ranch Chardonnay 2008 - VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia (#126912)

Profile: Apple, toast, butter, earth/mineral aromas follow on the palate. Vanilla, pear and tropical fruit notes. Crisp, medium-long finish.

Quite nice. It's not over-bearing with oak as some oaked Chardonnay's can be.

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Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009 - Mendoza, Argentina

I opened the Fuzion Alta Malbec Reserva 2009 (#135475) from the Zuccardi Family of wines last night and did not really enjoy it. It was lacking some complexity and seemed shallow.

Blackberry, dark fruit aromas. Inky, blackberry, iodine, cocoa flavours. Medium-long finish.

It was a Christmas gift from someone. For $9.95, it wasn't bad, I suppose.

There is a white Fuzion also waiting to be opened. *crossing fingers*

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My First Blog Post

Every 2 weeks, I will provide my picks of 5-10 wines from the most recent Vintages Release.

Stay tuned.

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